If your day off can be described with the words “Instagram”, “Facebook”, and “TikTok”, maybe, it’s time to change something in your life?

Screen Time and the Impact of Social Media on Your Life

People constantly complain that they have a list of books or films to read/watch, but they fail to do this because they lack vacant hours. They gripe about having no time for fulfilling their goals, such as learning languages ​​or mastering Javascript, despite their burning desire to engage in new activities. Of course, all this could be true, but the average time spent with social networks by far exceeds 20 minutes. Actually, statistics say that it amounts to 145 minutes daily, which steals almost two and a half hours from your work, family, hobby, or healthy sleep.

The invention of social networking platforms has greatly influenced people’s lives. At first, they were received rather skeptically, but now a large part of the population cannot imagine a day without them.

However, it is worth noting the latest growth in mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, apathy, and depression. One of the reasons behind the trend is that modern people tend to compare themselves with others while being unable to distinguish an “ideal picture” displayed on web pages from real life.

Social media algorithms promote different types of posts to the top. Quite often, people let negative emotions into their lives through publications channeled to them by the algorithms. If you are an empathic person, ask yourself how many times you felt sad or angry because you saw a picture displaying animal abuse or a video that show suffering children.

It is also worth analyzing the list of people you follow on social media platforms. Gossips about someone else’s life, details of someone’s divorce, or news about the unstable economic situation in the country are clearly not going to bring any good to your day.

Benefits You Could Get by Putting Your Online Socializing on Hold 

Social media detox is a very useful thing that helps people change their perception of the world, appreciate the beauty around them and get a healthy dose of inspiration. Try to forget about all the well-known platforms at least for a day, and you will see the result yourself.

First, you will have more free time. Pamper yourself by reading a book, watching a movie, or listening to music with your eyes closed. These activities can spark your imagination, inspire a craving for creativity, or prompt fresh ideas on ​​solving the problem that has puzzled you throughout recent weeks.

It is not necessary to give up the Internet completely because it is an immense source of useful information and various tutorials. Use them for trying something new or boosting your current skills. For instance, when inspired by a new song, try designing a cover for it with the help of an online album cover maker.

If you have been putting off sports for a long time, spend the hour you gained on yoga or fitness. Low physical activity is a great choice for people who do not have much in common with high exercise loads.

A social media day off will help you come to harmony with yourself. When you do not grab your phone every 5 minutes, you start listening to your desires and thoughts rather than adopting someone else’s statements forced on you through publications. If you get into the habit of spending a weekend without digital technologies, you will see new opportunities that you simply did not notice before because you were absorbed in online socializing.

Constant work and lack of time make it increasingly difficult for friends to find a day for meeting in a relaxed atmosphere. Take this chance and arrange a rendezvous with a loved one for a cup of aromatic coffee, a walk through the halls of an art gallery, or just a picnic with croissants in the park. You may also have fun with board games, which are on a new wave of popularity. By the way, such a type of activity mixed with positive emotions improves brain function, which will have a positive effect on your performance at work after you get some rest.

Refraining from social networking sites and gadgets is actually not as difficult as it seems. You just need to figure out whether social media really affects your life that much. If the answer is yes, don’t hesitate to take a break and channel your energy into something more important.